Forum sets urgent focus on €2.27bn beef exports
It will be the sixth meeting of the forum, which Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney set up in 2014 to facilitate open discussion between industry, farming organisations, and others on the strategic path forward for the sector.
IFA livestock committee chairman Henry Burns said Mr Coveney has to deliver on opening up new beef markets. Supplies will increase in 2016/17 and it was known from 2014 that the industry cannot sell additional beef at viable cattle prices.
“The minister must get beef exports moving to the likes of the US and China. We have had all the announcements, but progress on getting exports moving is far too slow,” he said.
Mr Burns has said that the Beef Forum must build on the progress already made by delivering on the key issues.
These include the opening of new markets to deal with the increasing cattle numbers and improved carcass classification and trim controls at meat plants.
Other issues relate to price transparency, adjustments to the Animal Identification and Movement system, quality assurance, live exports, and specifications which suit Irish production.
Mr Burns said the Beef Forum has proved to be very important in the recovery of the sector and cattle prices from the severe problems experienced in 2014.
He said 2015 calvings and registrations have increased and live exports are back, which mean cattle supplies in 2017 will be higher.
“The sector, led by the minister, must act on this now and not wait for another problem in 2017,” he said.
Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association president Patrick Kent has called for the reopening of the Irish embassy in Iran closed since 2012.
